World Attractions: Canada

World Attractions

• A tourist visits a particular destination because of its attractions
• These attractions can be man-made or natural
• A country's cultural heritage can be tangible or intangible

North America: Canada

• Canada ranks as the world's second-largest country

• Has culturally vibrant cities with plentiful sights

• Niagara Falls has three waterfalls; Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and American Falls

• Banff National Park is the oldest national park in Alberta's Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks

• This park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Mount Forbes, the highest mountain

• The Canadian National (CN) Tower is Toronto's famous broadcast and telecommunications tower

• It has observation decks, a revolving restaurant and entertainment complex

• Old Quebec City served as a defense during colonial wars, it is a historic walled city

• The city is divided into two parts: Upper Town and Lower Town

• Victoria's Inner Harbor, in Victoria, British Columbia, ranks among the most beautiful harbors

• Robert Bateman Gallery, The Empress Hotel, and Government Street, can be found here

• Canadians celebrate the Ottawa Winterlude Festival for three weekends in February

• The Rideau Canal becomes the world's largest skating rink every Winter

• The Quebec Winter Carnival, the world's largest winter carnival, occurs between late January and early February

• The Palace of Bonhomme, featuring a snowman mascot with a red sash, is a notable tradition

• The Calgary Stampede, the ten-day annual rodeo, takes place every July

• The Vancouver Celebration of Light, the world's largest fireworks competition, take place over three nights each July to August

• The fireworks are judged on artistry, design, synchronicity, and originality

• Canada Day is the biggest celebration in the country, marking Canada's birth as a country

North America: United States

• The United States contains both iconic landmarks and great landscapes
• Times Square, New York, is a major commercial intersection, entertainment hub, and tourist destination
• Every year, special events such as the famous ball drop on New Year's Eve are held
• The Statue of Liberty, New York, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site symbolizing the friendship of the US and France
• Las Vegas Strip, Nevada, contains clusters of hotels, casinos, entertainment venues, shows, and resorts
• The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California, is a suspension bridge stretching across the Golden Gate Strait
• The Grand Canyon, Arizona, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, National Park and one of the Seven Natural Wonders
• Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota, displays massive sculpture of 4 US Presidents
• A walkway lined with the flags of the USA leads toward a mountain
• New Orleans Mardi Gras occurs every February, a festival featuring colorful costumes and a parade
• Aloha Festivals, Hawaii, occurs between September to October, preserves Hawaiian cultural traditions

North America: Mexico

• Tourists are drawn to Mexico for sunshine, landscapes, beaches, and cultural legacy
• Chichen Itza, Yucatán, is a ruined ancient Mayan city
• The most recognizable structure is the Temple of Kukulcan/El Castillo, a four-sided pyramid
• Copper Canyon, Chihuahua, comprises a series of six distinct canyons with spectacular landscapes
• Catedral Metropolitana, Mexico City, is Latin America's oldest and largest church
• Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a festival from November 1-2 that celebrates and honors dead relatives
• Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe) is a religious festival on December 12
• Mary appeared before Juan Diego, and he asked the bishop to build a shrine for her on Tepeyac Hill

North America: Cuba

• Cuba contains culture, history, and intrigue
• Habana Vieja (Old Havana) is a UNESCO World Heritage site
• Varadero is a popular beach destination located on the Hicacos Peninsula
• Viñales Valley, Sierra de los Organos, has an outstanding karst landscape and is significant for agricultural practices
• Festival of Fire, Santiago de Cuba, occurs every July and features Cuban music, dancing, exhibitions, and parties
• Habano Festival, Havana, occurs during the last week of February
• The festival offers the chance to visit tobacco plantations and factories, and attend conferences

North America: Panama

• Panama connects North and South America
• Panama Canal is an iconic waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
• Casco Viejo, Panama City, contains iconic churches and cathedrals
• Barú Volcano, Chiriqui, ranks as the 12th-highest peak in Central America
• From here the Atlantic and Pacific oceans can be seen simultaneously
• Emberá Indigenous Village, Darien Rainforest, has indigenous people called Emberá
• Coffee Tasting Tour, Boquete, involves tasting Panama geisha coffee

North America: Dominican Republic

• The Dominican Republic is known for its great beaches, luxury resorts, and solid tourism infrastructure
• Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo, has important buildings, such as the first cathedral, monastery, university, and hospital
• It is where Christopher Columbus first landed in America
• Whale Watching at Samana Bay features humpback whales between December and March
• Dunas de Bani, Salinas, comprises dunes facing the Caribbean Sea of volcanic rock and gray sand
• Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park and Reserve, Punta Cana, contains different endangered and rare species of animals
• Santo Domingo Merengue Festival features lively music and dance

North America: Costa Rica

• The Petroglyphs of Cacao, Guanacaste, are drawings covering the Cacao volcano
• Ecotermales Hot Springs, La Fortuna de San Carlos, features magnesium-rich waters heated by Arenal volcano
• Manuel Antonio National Park, Puntarenas, comprises Costa Rica's smallest protected rainforest with untamed beaches
• The National Theater in San Jose contains a classical Renaissance columned façade topped by statues
• Palmares Fiestas occurs for two weeks in January, and include concerts and other events

North America: Bahamas

• Andros Island is the Bahamas' largest landmass
• Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park has marine life and clear blue waters
• Dean's Blue Hole, Long Island, is the deepest blue hole worldwide
• Pirates of Nassau Museum presents the life and times of Pirates
• Junkanoo Festival, Nassau, is the Bahamas' national festival celebrating costumes and masks with drums

North America: Honduras

• Honduras contains gorgeous islands, rainforests, and mountains
• Copan Ruins Archaeological Site contains altars and the Acropolis
• Comayagua Street Carpets are celebrated between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday
• Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve, Mosquito Coast, has mosaics, grasslands, monkeys, and macaws
• Museum of National Identity, Tegucigalpa, unveils Honduras's history
• Lempira Festival, Gracias, commemorates Lempira's resistance against Spain

North America: Jamaica

• Fort Charles, Port Royal, was made to defend against the Spanish
• Hope Botanical Gardens, St Andrew, possesses various species of plants and trees
• Devon House Mansion, St. Andrew, houses George Stiebel's Jamaican, English, and French antiques
• Reggae Sumfest, Montego Bay, is Jamaica's largest music festival
• Portland Jerk Festival, Port Antonio, occurs on the first Sunday in July

South America: Argentina

• Los Glaciares National Park, Santa Cruz, has glaciers, lakes, and mountains
• Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires, has great acoustics and architecture
• Talampaya National Park, La Rioja, is a desert reserve
• Buenos Aires Tango Festival occurs in August
• Wine Tasting and Tours, Mendoza, occurs every March

South America: Brazil

• Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro, has the Christ the Redeemer sculpture
• Pelourinho, Salvador, showcases indigenous African and European city center buildings
• Escadaria Selaron, Rio de Janeiro, has a staircase of colorful ceramics and glass
• Carnival, Rio de Janeiro has street parades and dances
• Festival de Cachaça, Paraty, celebrates sugar cane liquor

South America: Chile

• Easter Island displays monumental Moai statues
• Marble Caves, Patagonia, features curved caves
• Torres del Paine National Park contains crystal lakes and snow-capped mountains
• Fiestas Patrias occurs in September
• Tapati celebrates ancient culture in February

South America: Peru

• Machu Picchu stands as tangible evidence of the Inca peoples
• Oasis Town of Huacachina is well known for its buggy and sandboarding activities
• Ballestas Islands has many protected species
• Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) honors the sun god, Inti
• Santurantikuy (The Festival of Crafts) takes place in December

South America: Colombia

• Cartagena's Old Town is known as the crown jewel of Colombia; also has historic walled cities in the Americas
• Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá is an underground Catholic church
• Tayrona National Park is is known for its palm-shaded coves and crystal-clear lagoons
• Botero Museum, Bogota, houses unique paintings featuring Boterismo
• The Flower Festival in Medellin showcases the different flowers grown around the city

South America: Paraguay

• Palacio de los Lopez, Asuncion, is the official workplace of the President of Paraguay
• Itaipu Dam, Paraná River is a hydroelectric dam
• Nacunday National Park is one of the last untouched places to enjoy nature in the country
• Nanduti Festival, Itagua, showcases art, crafts, food, and music
• Dia de San Blas is in celebration of Saint Blaise

Europe: UK

• Stonehenge, Wiltshire, is a prehistoric stone circle monument
• The Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster (Big Ben) has iconic chimes
• Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands contains an aquatic monster
• Hogmanay Festival, Scotland, is a celebration to welcome friends
• The Jorvik Viking Festival celebrates the Viking army

Europe: Germany

• Cologne Cathedral has a relic known as the Shrine of the Magi
• Brandenburg Gate in Berlin stands for unity and resilience
• Zugspitze is the highest mountain in Germany
• Oktoberfest, Munich, is a famous German festival
• Wurstmarkt, Bad Dürkheim, is the world's largest wine festival

Europe: France

• Eiffel Tower, Paris, is an observation tower
• Louvre Museum, Paris, is the world's largest museum
• Verdon Gorge, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, is a river canyon
• Cannes Film Festival previews new films
• Lemon Festival, Menton, features floats of citrus fruits

Europe: Italy

• Colosseum, Rome, was used for gladiator combat
• The Grand Canal, Venice, is a waterway where automobiles are banned
• Stair of the Turks, Sicily, is a cliff coast with soft limestone rock
• Battle of the Oranges, Ivrea, commemorates destruction
• Saint Ursus Fair, Aosta, is focused on arts and crafts

Europe: Russia

• Lake Baikal is the oldest freshwater lake
• Hermitage Museum, Petersburg, showcases collections
• Saint Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, points on the compass
• Maslenitsa Festival (Pancake Week) is before Lent
• Moscow Golden Mask Festival seeks to improve theatre art

Europe: Spain

• Alhambra, Granada, showcases intricate stone carvings
• Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, atones for reparation of sins
• Rio Tinto (Dark Red River), Huelva, contains tinted red and orange acids
• La Tomatina (Battle of the Tomato), Buñol, involves people throwing food
• The Festival of Saint Fermin, Pamplona features running bulls

Europe: Greece

• The Acropolis of Athens is an archaeological site
• Meteora Monasteries, Trikala, features rock formations
• Mount Olympus is the home of Zeus
• The Kalymnos Climbing Festival is an annual event
• Sani Gourmet Festival is a gastronomy event

Europe: Switzerland

• Matterhorn contains pyramid shape and rocky mountain peaks
• The Chapel Bridge, Lucerne, protects the city
• Zytglogge /zi-klok/ (Clock Tower), Bern, is a landmark clocktower and fire observation tower
• The Carnival of Basel is the largest carnival festival
• Winegrowers Festival, Vevey, festivals on the story of the winegrower

Europe: Denmark

• Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, features roller coasters, theaters
• LEGO House, Billund, displays LEGO bricks
• Stevns Klint, Zealand, shows the impact of a meteorite took place
• Aarhus Festival celebrates local culture

Europe: Sweden

• The Royal Domain of Drottningholm, Lovön, is another building inspired by Palace of Versailles
  • It features buildings with architecture in the 17th-century.
  • Palace Theatre includes stages and machinery preserved.
  • The Chinese Pavilion originally gifted by King to the Queen.
  • Cantor Village is for silkworm and living quarters.
• Vasa Museum, Stockholm, features a 17th-century ship
• Ale's Stones, Ystad, consists of an ancient boat formation
• Walpurgisnacht /wal-pur-gis-nat/, Midsommar (Midsummer) Festival celebrations of the holiday.